Michigan officials said Friday that the state's jobless numbers are below the level required by federal law to continue in the "extended benefit" program.

The program paid for up to 20 weeks of additional unemployment benefits for people who had exhausted their regular state benefits and another program providing what's called "emergency unemployment compensation."

About 29,500 unemployed Michigan workers could be affected.
Michigan fell below the required jobless numbers in late January. Benefits will be phased out with all of the extended benefits ending effective with payment for the week ending Feb. 18.

Michigan's jobless rate fell to 9.3% in December, the lowest rate in more than three years.